Kentucky legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Kentucky HB486: AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders.
Status: In committee, February 26, 2026
Amend KRS 95A.292 to allow rescue squad members to participate in the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program; create a new section of KRS Chapter 39F to direct the Division of Emergency Management and the Kentucky Fire Commission to enter into an agreement to ensure that rescue squad members have access to the program; provide that the Act may be cited as Gavin's Rights.
What the bill says
An act relating to the mental health of first responders.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: Section 1. KRS 95A.292 is amended to read as follows: (1) The commission shall establish the Alan "Chip" Terry Professional Development and Wellness Program for firefighters and rescue squad members. (2) As used in this section, "rescue squad member" means an individual who is a member of a rescue squad as defined in KRS 39F.010. (3) The program shall: (a) Use seminar-based peer support and counseling services designed to reduce negative mental and behavioral health outcomes; and (b) Be offered to Kentucky professional and volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members in Kentucky at least two (2) times each calendar year. (4)[(3)] On a limited basis, the program may be offered to professional and volunteer firefighters and rescue squad members from states other than Kentucky upon application to and approval by the executive director. However, no Kentucky professional and volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members may be denied admission to the program if professional and volunteer firefighters or rescue squad members from another state are admitted to the program. (5)[(4)] The commission shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to implement this section. The administrative regulations shall address, at a minimum: (a) The required qualifications and …
Sponsors
- Bill Wesley (R, HD-091) · primary sponsor
- Shane Baker (R, HD-085)
- George Brown (D, HD-077)
- Beverly Chester-Burton (D, HD-044)
- Robert Duvall (R, HD-017)
- Daniel Fister (R, HD-056)
- Patrick Flannery (R, HD-096)
- Chris Fugate (R, HD-084)
- Jim Gooch (R, HD-012)
- Daniel Grossberg (D, HD-030)
- David Hale (R, HD-074)
- Mark Hart (R, HD-078)
Latest actions
- : to Committee on Committees (S)
- : received in Senate
- : 3rd reading, passed 95-0
- : posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Wednesday, February 25 2026
- : 2nd reading, to Rules
- : reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
- : to Veterans, Military Affairs, & Public Protection (H)
- : to Committee on Committees (H)
- : introduced in House
Votes
- House: Pass RCS# 148 (February 25, 2026): 95 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Short Titles And Popular Names, Military Affairs And Civil Defense, Boards And Commissions, Firefighters And Fire Departments, Public Safety, Mental Health
Common questions
- What is HB486?
- HB486 is a bill in the Kentucky Legislature (2026 Regular Session): AN ACT relating to the mental health of first responders.
- What does HB486 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to the mental health of first responders.
- What is the status of HB486?
- In committee as of February 26, 2026. Latest action: to Committee on Committees (S) (February 26, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB486?
- Bill Wesley (R, HD-091), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB486?
- On the Kentucky Legislature website: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26rs/hb486.html
Source: official Kentucky record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.